Vintage photos of ‘mom and pop’ stores in N.J.

Updated Mar 26, 2020; Posted Mar 26, 2020

By Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media

Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media

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Vintage photos of ‘mom and pop’ stores in N.J.

Andrew Blumenthal wrote in Investopedia that “’Mom-and-pop’ is a colloquial term used to describe a small, family-owned or independent business. Mom-and-pop stores are often operations that struggle to compete with more substantial establishments, such as big-box retailers, who generally boast more buying power than smaller players. In the last few years, "shop local" and "shop small" have been used as slogans in marketing campaigns.”

Those of us who grew up with them don’t need a definition. They didn’t necessarily have to be run by a husband and wife (‘mom and pop’) but often were brother-and-sister, father-and-daughter or mother-and-son. Sometimes, you could meet the entire family shopping at one of these stores.

A small store wasn’t necessarily a mom-and-pop and it didn't have to be a food store. The proprietors lived in the community, often next door to or right above the business. They were invested in the neighborhood, got to know each and every one of their customers, and gave back in ways that were for good instead of free publicity.

Here’s hoping that this is one of the things from the past that makes a big comeback.

Here's a gallery of good ol' 'mom and pop' stores in New Jersey. Click on the links in the final slide to see more vintage photos. And if you have vintage photos you'd like to see in our slide shows, send them in an email to greghatalagalleries@gmail.com.

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Courtesy of Evelyn Ross

James Ross and his wife, Willie Freda, pictured, operated a grocery store on Ridgedale Avenue in East Hanover; this photo is from the 1940s.

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Courtesy of the Matawan Historical Society

Matty's General Store in Aberdeen Township is shown in the late 1920s. It was a pop-and-brother-in-law, started by Homer Matteson and offering groceries, general merchandise and a deli.

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Courtesy of James Gleason

James Gleason captioned this photo: "This is my mom, Pat Gleason, at Tamarack Deli in Byram; it was sometime in the '70s."

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Courtesy of Bobby Cole Photo Archives

Bart Pestrichella inspects bread made in the 100-year-old brick ovens at Marie's Bakery in Hoboken in 1982.

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Courtesy of Linwood Historical Society

It was Mom and Pop … and every other member of the family at Stuber's Store in Linwood in 1901. Adolph Stuber, far rght, was the patriarch of the family business.

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Courtesy of Bobby Cole Photo Archives

The Savannah Market on West Kinney Street in Newark is shown in a photo from the 1930s.

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Courtesy of the Gloucester County Historical Society

A 1940 photo of Thompson's Grocery Store in Woodbury. Standing for the photo were, from left, Frank Hobbs, Albert Thompson, George Thompson, Bill Rambo, Courtland Thompson and John Thompson.

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Courtesy of James Youngelson

Max and Bella Youngelson ran this small department store on Blackwell Street in Dover for decades, catering primarily to the local miners. It's pictured in the 1930s.

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Courtesy of the White family

White's Food Center was located on the corner of West Park Avenue and Monmouth Road in Ocean Township from 1946 to 1974. Shown in this undated photo were, from left, butcher Frank Smith, Clyde White, Ailene White and Edwin White.

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Courtesy of Bobby Cole Photo Archives

Myron Ogonowsky prepares the casings for stuffing kielbasa at his Jersey City meat market aptly named Ogonowsky's Meat Market on Warren Street in 1987.

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Courtesy of the North Plainfield Public Library

The Somerset Fish Market as located on the corner of Somerset Street and Craig Place in North Plainfield and sported a large crustacean to attract customers. The photo is from the 1970s.

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Courtesy of the Trenton Historical Society

Samuel Kohn smokes a cigar in front of Kohn's Bakery at Market and Broad streets in Trenton in 1920. His daughter, Frieda, and an unidentified employee are also pictured.

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Courtesy of Hector Vazquez

Family-run Cumberland Cleaners and Launderers on East Avenue in Vineland had a different feature - a drive-through. The photo is undated.

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Courtesy of Anthony Zoppina

In season, produce was sold outdoors at the Wayside Stand in Beverly, seen in this undated photo. It was also a year-round mom and pop store for various foods and household items. The youngster in the foreground and the adult in the background are unidentified.

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Courtesy of Richard Moser

The interior of Moser's Delicattesen on Olive Street in Neshanic Station, photographed in 1958. Grace Moser, pictured, ran the business with her husband, George.

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Courtesy of the Denville Historical Society

Flormann's Hardware Store in Denville was also a five-and-dime; it operated from 1935 to 1947. The two gentlemen are not identified.

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Courtesy of Eduardo Pena

An unidentified woman and man are photographed in the doorway of the E. Mason Fish Market in Jersey City in the 1930s.

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Courtesy of Lenny Debrango

This photo of the Gold Star Market at 8014 Grand Ave. in North Bergen was taken in the 1960s. The fella in the picture is unidentified.

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Courtesy of the Hudson County Genealogical and Historical Society

Minnie Daubenberger stands behind the counter of her store on South Fourth Street in Harrison in this nearly century-old photo.

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Courtesy of Carol Montero

A 1929 picture of a market on 205 Speer Ave. in Clifton. The woman behind the counter is identified as Adela Stesko.

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Courtesy of Diane Hodge Hess

A photo of the R.D. Shaw Grocery Store on Davenport Street in Somerville taken in 1906. Arthur Hayes, age 14, is identified as the fella wearing the hat.

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Courtesy of Beverly Casserly

Revelli's Market was located in Gloucester City. The photo is from the 1970s, and you would be able to figure out it was in south Jersey from the sign advertising 'lunch meats,' not 'cold cuts.'

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Courtesy of Bobby Cole Photo Archives

The man in front of the Newark Nut Company, photographed in the 1930s, is identified only as Sol.